Kumble sets eyes on title win this season

Royal Challengers finished runners-up to Deccan Chargers in IPL II.

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PTI

Kolkata

March 13, 2010

UPDATED: March 14, 2010 23:18 IST

Former India skipper and current Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble said he was looking forward to the challenge of playing in the third IPL and hoped his team would better their last season's second place finish this year.

Royal Challengers finished runners-up when they lost the finals against Deccan Chargers in the second edition of the twenty20 event last year in South Africa.

"It's all about individual motivation. In terms of skills, yes it will take sometime to get back into the groove.

I am looking forward to the challenge. I am practising for couple of weeks now and training more than a month. I am sure I will be perform my role," Kumble said ahead of their IPL 3 opener against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Kumble, who was appointed as captain of the Royals after foreign recruit Kevin Pietersen of England left for home midway, said it was nice to start as captain in this edition.

"It's nice to start as the captain. Obviously there will be a lot of expectation. I am really looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully, we will be able to do better than what we did last time."

"No matter what you plan, Twenty20 is such a format that you have to think on the field. You can do whatever planning and strategies, things can change. Like what happened yesterday in the KKR's win over Deccan Chargers," said Kumble.

Kumble said the feeling that he has quit cricket didn't struck him much as he played in the IPL II and Champions League last year.

"It's nice to come back into cricket. I don't think I have left the game. IPL is once a year but it happened too quickly. For me Champions League was there and in between these two IPLs. It feels, as if I have not stopped playing. I really enjoy to come back and play 45 days of cricket," Kumble said.

The ace leg-spinner said IPL was not much tiring for someone who has bowled in Tests.

"Feels nice to know that you just have to play 45 days of cricket. If you get to the final, you just have to bowl 64 overs. It's not a bad task for someone who would probably bowl 64 overs in a game."

His three-year contract with the Bangalore side is coming to an end this season but Kumble said he had not given thoughts about next season.

"I don't know. I have not even played the first game.

It's a long tournament. Maybe you should ask this question later in the tournament," he said.

Kumble said the basic in cricket remains the same whether it's one-day, Test or the shortest version of the game.

"At the end of it, we are all playing cricket. That's what I would like to approach. Whether it's a T20, one-day or Test format, it's no different.

"T20 just happens too quickly that one ball or over can change the course of the game. That's the beauty of the format. We just need to be on the button always. I don't see it as totally different format. It's just the basics and you still have to do the basics to win a cricket match," Kumble said.

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